This post was written in honor of Black Maternal & Environmental Health Day as part of a collaboration between Mothers & Others for Clean Air and Young, Gifted & Green. Learn more about BMEH Day here.
Climate Awareness for Mother and Baby
This upcoming summer is on track to surpass last year’s record-breaking temperatures. Exposure to even one day of high heat can impact health in our most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and their children, and can exacerbate mental health issues.
Women of color are especially vulnerable to pregnancy complications due to heat exposure. This can occur due to social factors (such as access to appropriate housing with cooling systems and reliable transportation which can reduce long periods of heat exposure), as well as environmental factors (heat can worsen air pollution and increase risk of wildfires).
Hot weather can intensify air pollution by trapping ground-level air pollutants like ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. Warm temperatures combined with worsening air pollution can cause inflammatory changes and further increase the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm contractions, preterm labor, and preterm birth. In addition, combined heat and air pollution can affect the placenta and lead to some birth defects, low birth weight, and sadly, even stillbirth.
In addition, exposure to high heat is associated with the onset of a variety of negative health outcomes, including the exacerbation of mood symptoms, anxiety, agitation, and distress. The relationship between climate change and mental health can have a significant impact on pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. For example, it limits access to and enjoyment of outdoor spaces (usually a protective factor for mental health) and can make children difficult to soothe, impacting the mother’s quantity and quality of sleep.
What can you do? Knowledge is a superpower – now you know that the dual impact of heat exposure and poor air quality during pregnancy can impact both physical and mental health. Use the resources listed below to protect yourself from high heat and air pollution.
Climate Protection Guidance for Health Professionals
- Consider an assessment during the hot season like the CHILL’D OUT questionnaire (including both home and workplace)
- Discuss recommendations for hydration and cooling techniques
- Provide patients with information on cooling stations
- Prepare a Heat Action Plan with patients
Climate Protection Guidance in Pregnancy
- Learn to plan indoor and outdoor activities based on information from the CDC Heat Risk Dashboard and AirNow.gov; talk with healthcare providers about how to look at information by zip code to understand the Heat Risk level and the Air Quality Index
- Review medications and the effect of heat on the health
- Use the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential, 24/7 assistance with mental health concerns. Text or call 1-833-TLC-MAMA to connect with a trained mental health counselor.
Authors
Dr. Keisha Callins, MD, MPH is an OB/GYN with Community Health Care Systems Inc., a federally qualified health center in Middle Georgia. Dr. Callins is also a professor at Mercer University School of Medicine. She is a 2024 MSCCH Climate and Health Equity Fellow.
Dr. Jennifer Barkin, M.S., PhD is an expert in perinatal mental health and a professor at Mercer University School of Medicine. She serves on the steering committee for Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action.
